vendredi 18 février 2011

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the Catechism of the Catholic Church states the following:

2483 Lying is the most direct offense against the truth. To lie is to speak or act against the truth in order to lead someone into error. By injuring man’s relation to truth and to his neighbor, a lie offends against the fundamental relation of man and of his word to the Lord.

2488 The right to the communication of the truth is not unconditional. Everyone must conform his life to the Gospel precept of fraternal love. This requires us in concrete situations to judge whether or not it is appropriate to reveal the truth to someone who asks for it.

2489 Charity and respect for the truth should dictate the response to every request for information or communication. The good and safety of others, respect for privacy, and the common good are sufficient reasons for being silent about what ought not be known or for making use of a discreet language. The duty to avoid scandal often commands strict discretion. No one is bound to reveal the truth to someone who does not have the right to know it.

A simple question, which need not be answered me personally but should maybe be answered readers of this blog: how many priests think that a man being described as a dangerous maniac by civil authorities who rely on psychiatry is a reason enough to withhold truth obstinately from him? And how far do they think they have a right to go in "withholding truth", up to lying to him so he cannot defend himself legally by not being told how he is calumnied?

A related one: how many of them think they could have handled refusals of truth time after time when being themselves honest and reasonably peaceful and the refusal ruining their peaceful plans for themselves and their happiness and also for doing good?

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What harm could it do if a man told a good lusty lie in a worthy cause and for the sake of the Christian Churches? To lie in a case of necessity or for convenience or in excuse, such lying would not be against God; He was ready to take such lies on Himself.

In an enumeration of heresies of Luther, by commentator Karl here in comments on another blog post.

The first work, On Lying, begins: "Magna quæstio est de Mendacio" (There is a great question about Lying). From his text, it can be derived that St. Augustine divided lies into eight categories, listed in order of descending severity:

* Lies in religious teaching. * Lies that harm others and help no one. * Lies that harm others and help someone. * Lies told for the pleasure of lying. * Lies told to "please others in smooth discourse." * Lies that harm no one and that save someone's life. * Lies that harm no one and that save someone's "purity." * Lies that harm no one and that help someone.

Augustine wrote that lies told in jest, or by someone who believes or opines the lie to be true are not, in fact, lies. (reference leading to above link)

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